Automated machine impeller clutch

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling a machine impeller clutch includes a power source, a transmission unit, an impeller clutch operatively coupling the power source to the transmission unit, and an input device configured to generate a force data signal indicative of a working fluid pressure. An electronic control module in communication with the input device is configured to execute a time-step predictive analytical model for impeller clutch engagement. The electronic control module configured to receive the force data from the input device, determine an impeller clutch engagement value based at least in part on the force data signal and utilizing the time-step predictive analytical model, and cause engagement of the machine impeller clutch according to the impeller clutch engagement value.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for automating amachine impeller clutch and more particularly, an automated controlsystem for a machine impeller clutch in earth-moving machinery.

BACKGROUND

Automatic-control of an impeller clutch on an earth-moving machine suchas a large wheel loader is a difficult problem to solve because clutchengagement can change dynamically with varying densities and materialsin the work pile. A torque converter is used to transfer energy from theengine to the transmission and drive the wheels. The energy transfer ismodulated by use of a clutch-driven impeller. A machine operator maydepress the clutch pedal to allow for selective driving of the impeller.The impeller clutch can operatively couple the engine and impellertogether when engaged (pedal released), and alternatively uncouple theimpeller from the engine when not engaged (pedal depressed). By varyingimpeller engagement by virtue of the degree the pedal is depressed, theoperator can modulate how much driving torque is applied to the wheelsfor a given engine speed, which may also be associated with a wheelspeed of the machine.

Achieving the right wheel speed and torque is critical to efficientdigging that fills the bucket in a short amount of time without gettingit stuck in the pile. Human machine operators use the clutch to minimizefuel and unnecessary digs, and to maximize productivity, whereas humanoperators may use the clutch inefficiently. Today, the impeller clutchis manually-driven only. Heuristic rule-based controllers exist but arenot optimal or adequate because they can address only limited situationsencountered by the earth-moving machine. Control algorithms could bedevised, but the algorithms would depend on system identifications andun-modelable disturbances that would deviate from reality and not beappropriate for varying material densities.

An attempt to automatically control the tractive effort of a machinebased on an input is described in U.S. patent application PublicationSer. No. 11/536,892 (“the '892 publication”). Specifically, the '892publication describes a method and a device for de-rating tractiveeffort of wheels of a machine to prevent the boom of the machine fromstalling in response to receiving a boom control signals. According tothe '892 publication, using a standard-form predefined algorithm such asa the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) algorithm, the tractiveeffort of the vehicle is controlled according to a comparison of boomvelocity and commanded velocity. Based on this relation, according tothe '892 publication, it is possible to control the machine (e.g.,de-rate the rimpull speed of the engine) to eliminate velocity errorbetween boom velocity and commanded velocity.

Although the method and device of the '892 publication are purported tocontrol tractive effort automatically based on a calculated boomvelocity, they are not configured to provide automatic control of themachine using time-based predictive analytics that can account forvarious or changing work pile conditions. Thus, the method and device ofthe '892 publication may not be useful to provide fully-automatedimpeller control for the machine because the '892 publication describesa method that can address only limited situations encountered by themachine. Conventional systems, such as those described in the '892publication, have not provided an automated impeller clutch for earthmoving machines because the dig media is often variably dense, withaggregate of different sizes, having different compact densitiesthroughout the work pile, which makes the linear algorithms described inthe '892 publication unreliable for all conditions.

The system and method disclosed herein may be directed to mitigating orovercoming one or more of the possible drawbacks set forth above.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, a system for controlling a machine impellerclutch is described. The system includes a power source, a transmissionunit, an impeller clutch operatively coupling the power source to thetransmission unit, and an input device configured to generate a forcedata signal indicative of a working fluid pressure. An electroniccontrol module in communication with the input device is configured toexecute a time-step predictive analytical model for impeller clutchengagement. The electronic control module configured to receive theforce data from the input device, determine an impeller clutchengagement value based at least in part on the force data signal andutilizing the time-step predictive analytical model, and causeengagement of the machine impeller clutch according to the impellerclutch engagement value.

According to a further aspect, a method for training a time-steppredictive analytical model for impeller clutch control using arecurrent neural network is described. The method includes obtainingfluidic pressure information a machine hydraulic cylinder as a functionof time, the fluidic pressure information being associated with aworking fluid disposed within a machine hydraulic cylinder, andgenerating a training set. The training set can include a set of fluidicpressure values corresponding to a set of impeller clutch engagementvalues. The method further includes generating, with the machinelearning system, a time-step predictive analytical model based on thetraining set, and storing the time-step predictive analytical model onan electronic control module of a machine. The time-step predictiveanalytical model is configured to receive a force data signal from aninput device of the machine, determine an impeller clutch engagementvalue based at least in part on the force data signal and utilizing thetime-step predictive analytical model, and cause engagement of animpeller clutch of the machine according to the impeller clutchengagement value.

According to another aspect, an electronic control module for a machineincludes a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executableinstructions stored thereupon. The computer-executable instructions,when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute a time-steppredictive analytical model for impeller clutch engagement of animpeller clutch of the machine. The computer-executable instructions areconfigured to cause the processor to receive a force data signal from afluidic pressure measurement device configured to generate the forcedata signal, determine an impeller clutch engagement value based atleast in part on the force data signal and utilizing the time-steppredictive analytical model, and cause engagement of the machineimpeller clutch according to the impeller clutch engagement value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Thesame reference numbers in different figures indicate similar oridentical items.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example machine that includes a system forcontrolling a machine impeller clutch, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example system for controlling the machineimpeller clutch depicted in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an electronic control moduleconfigured to control the machine impeller clutch depicted in FIG. 1,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pictorial flow diagram of an example process forcontrolling a machine impeller clutch using a time-step predictiveanalytical model, according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 5-9 depict steps of the machine of FIG. 1 executing an impellerclutch control process, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial flow diagram of an example process fortraining a time-step predictive analytical model for impeller clutchcontrol using a machine learning system, according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 11 depicts a machine learning system, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example machine 100 that includes a system 102 forcontrolling a machine impeller clutch, according to an embodiment. Themachine 100 may embody a mobile machine that performs some type ofoperation associated with an industry such as mining, construction,farming, transportation, or any other industry known in the art. Forexample, although depicted as a wheel loader in FIG. 1, the machine 100may be an earth-moving or material-handling machine such as a wheelloader, a motor grader, or any other suitable moving machine.

The system 102 for controlling the machine impeller clutch (hereafter“system 102”) can include a power source 104, an impeller clutch 106, animpeller 108, and/or a transmission unit 110. The system 102 may furtherinclude an input device 112 configured to generate a force data signalduring a work operation, and an electronic control module 114 incommunication with the input device 112 and the impeller clutch 106. Themachine 100 further includes one or more traction devices 116, and awork tool 118 for performing work with the machine 100.

The work tool 118, when configured as a wheel loader, can include abucket 120 coupled to a lift arm 122. The lift arm 122 and bucket 120may be coupled to and controllably actuated by a hydraulic lift cylinder124. The hydraulic lift cylinder 124 may be coupled to the lift arm 122by a lift linkage 126. In some aspects, the system 102 may control theimpeller clutch 106 using an input device such as, for example, theinput device 112 that may be configured to measure fluidic pressure ofthe hydraulic lift cylinder 124. In other aspects, the system 102 maycontrol the impeller clutch using, at least in part, position data suchas, for example, a work tool angle from an input device 128 configuredto measure a lift linkage angle, and/or an input device 130 configuredto provide a force data signal indicative of a work tool angle of thework tool 118 (or more specifically, an angle of the lift arm 122 withrespect to a normal position), a hydraulic fluid pressure value, oranother input.

The power source 104 may produce a power output having both torque androtational speed components (i.e., Power=Torque×Speed, wherein Speed maybe a rotational speed, for example, of a shaft (not shown)), and mayembody an internal combustion engine. For example, power source 104 mayembody a diesel engine, a gasoline engine, a gaseous fuel-poweredengine, or any other engine apparent to one skilled in the art. Thepower source 104 may contain an engine block having a plurality ofcylinders (not shown), reciprocating pistons disposed within thecylinders (not shown), and a crankshaft operatively connected to thepistons (not shown). The internal combustion engine may use a combustioncycle to convert potential energy (usually in chemical form) to arotational output of the crankshaft of the machine 100 (crankshaft notshown).

The impeller 108 and impeller clutch 106 may be used to transmit torquefrom the power source 104 to the transmission unit 110. The machine 100may further include a torque converter assembly (not shown). Forexample, a torque converter may be a hydro-mechanical device configuredto transmit torque from power source 104 to the transmission unit 110.The impeller 108, in conjunction with the impeller clutch 106, may allowthe power source 104 to rotate independently of the transmission unit110. For example, the impeller 108 may be connected to an output of theimpeller clutch 106.

The impeller 108 may rotate as a result of operation of the power source104 (where the impeller 108 rotation is a function of a degree ofimpeller clutch engagement). Rotation of the impeller 108 may thusimpart energy to fluid within a torque converter or other couplingmechanism, such as a power source turbine (not shown) connected to thetransmission unit 110. The transmission unit 110 may receive thisenergy, thus causing the connected transmission unit 110 to rotate. Atlow fluid flow rates and pressures, the impeller 108 may rotate at ahigher speed relative to power source drive components, such as, forexample, the power source turbine. However, as the pressure and the flowrate of the fluid conducted between impeller 108 and a torque converterincrease, the rotational speed of the torque converter may approach therotational speed of impeller 108.

Accordingly, the impeller clutch 106 may allow variable engagementbetween power source 104 and the transmission unit 110. Moreparticularly, the impeller clutch 106 may allow the power source 104 torotate at a relatively high speed and high torque, while allowing thetransmission unit 110 to rotate at a lower speed and/or with a reducedtorque. The impeller clutch 106 may contain a plurality ofmechanically-interacting input and output disks (not shown) coupling thepower source 104 to the transmission unit 110, where the disks mayrotate as a result of power source operation. A hydraulic and/ormechanical actuator that axially presses the disks together mayselectively engage the impeller clutch 106, thus allowing frictionalforces to couple the rotation of the input disk to the rotation of theoutput disk or vice versa. The magnitude of the pressure applied to theimpeller clutch disks may be related to the magnitude of the frictionalforces and, subsequently, to the magnitude of the torque transmittedbetween power source 104 and the transmission unit 110. The impellerclutch 106 may reduce the coupling of the power source 104 to thetransmission unit 110 by decreasing the degree of frictional engagementbetween the clutch disks, thus allowing the disks to rotate more freelyrelative to each other. Similarly, the impeller clutch 106 may increasethe coupling of the power source 104 to the transmission unit 110 byincreasing a degree of frictional engagement between the clutch disks(e.g., by increasing the pressure forcing the disks together).

The degree of frictional clutch engagement may be quantified as animpeller clutch engagement value. For example, a clutch engagement valuemay be a numeric coefficient between zero (signifying full clutch plateengagement that transfers all available torque to the rimpull) and one(signifying no clutch plate engagement that transfers no availabletorque to the rimpull). As used herein, a clutch engagement value may beanalogous to an amount that a clutch pedal (if it were used in themachine 100) would be depressed to achieve the desired amount of torque.In one aspect, no engagement can signify a coupling of all availablefrictional engagement to transfer all torque between the power source104 and the transmission unit 110. In another aspect, full engagement,or a clutch engagement value of zero can signify no torque beingtransmitted between the power source 104 and the transmission unit 110.In further aspects, an impeller clutch engagement value and torque areassociated such that a predetermined clutch engagement value can beassociated with a predetermined torque value as an output of thetransmission unit 110. Because torque values are a function of knownfactors that include engine size, power output, etc., the relationshipbetween the impeller clutch engagement value and torque, which share aninverse and linear relationship in many embodiments, a lookup table maybe used to describe the relationship. In other aspects, an impellerclutch engagement value and wheel speed may be associated in apredetermined way. It is contemplated that the electronic control module114 may automatically activate the impeller clutch 106.

According to an embodiment, the electronic control module 114 isconfigured to determine an impeller clutch engagement value independentof any signal from a manual impeller clutch control. The impeller clutch106 may generate a signal indicative of its degree of engagement.

The transmission unit 110 may include numerous components that interactto transmit power from the power source 104 to the traction devices 116.In particular, the transmission unit 110 may embody a multi-speed,bidirectional, mechanical transmission having a neutral position, aplurality of forward gear ratios, one or more reverse gear ratios, andone or more clutches (not shown) for selectively engaging predeterminedcombinations of gears (not shown) that produce a desired output gearratio. The transmission unit 110 may be an automatic-type transmission,wherein shifting is based on a power source speed, a maximum operatorselected gear ratio, and a shift map stored within a transmissioncontroller. Alternatively, the transmission unit 110 may be a manualtransmission, wherein the operator manually engages the actual gearcombinations. The output of the transmission unit 110 may be connectedto rotatably drive the traction devices 116 via a shaft or other powertransmission device (not shown), thereby propelling the machine 100. Itis contemplated that the transmission unit 110 may alternatively includeonly a single gear combination or no gear combinations at all, ifdesired, such as in a continuously variable or parallel path type oftransmission.

The traction devices 116 may include wheels located on each side ofmachine 100 (only one side shown). Alternately, traction devices 116 mayinclude tracks, belts, or other driven traction devices. The tractiondevices 116 may be driven by the transmission unit 110 to rotate inaccordance with an output rotation of the transmission unit 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates the system 102 for controlling the impeller clutch ofa machine (e.g., the impeller clutch 106 of the machine 100, as shown inFIG. 1). The system 102 may include at least one input device (e.g.,input device 112) in communication with the hydraulic lift cylinder 124(FIG. 1) and/or in communication with a working fluid operable with thehydraulic lift cylinder 124. In other aspects, the system 102 mayinclude a plurality of input devices such as, for example, the inputdevice 128, and the input device 130. The input devices 128 and 130 maybe configured to provide positional information, orientation informationwith respect to a machine element such as, for example, a position oramount of engagement of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124, and/or thelike. For example, the input device 128 may include a position sensorconfigured to provide signal indicative of an angle of the lift arm 122with respect to a normal position of the machine 100 (e.g., a “home”position, or another arbitrary position from which to measure anoperative angle). In another embodiment, the input device 130 may be aposition sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a bucketangle of the bucket 120. In another embodiment, the input devices 128and/or 130 may provide an input indicative of pressure, velocity, load,and/or other types of information usable by the electronic controlmodule 114 for control and operation of the impeller clutch 106.

The electronic control module 114 (described hereafter in greater detailwith respect to FIG. 3) may be disposed in communication with the inputdevice 112 and the impeller clutch 106 through one or more wired orwireless communication channels 200. The electronic control module 114may be configured with an impeller clutch control engine and a time-steppredictive analytical model. The electronic control module 114 may beconfigured to obtain fluidic pressure information of a working fluid inthe hydraulic lift cylinder 124, as a function of time, and determine animpeller clutch engagement value based at least in part on the fluidicpressure information, and/or other data, and further based on thetime-step predictive analytical model.

The time-step predictive analytical model may be a machine learningframework trained using a multitude of training dig events. One exampleof a time-step predictive analytical model is a recurrent neural network(RNN), discussed in greater detail with respect to FIG. 10. A dig eventcan be, for example, a work session of a machine similar to the machine100, where one or more human machine operators control the machine toperform a work task such as moving earth, digging, grading soil, oranother task normally performed with the machine (and more particularly,performed using an impeller clutch on the machine). The time-steppredictive analytical model may be trained by machine-learned trainingdata. The training data can include time series data obtained fromavailable sensors and/or channels (e.g., input devices) on the machine.Examples of input devices that provide training data during dig eventscan include, for example, an impeller clutch pedal position sensor,sensors that provide series data from lift command valves, tilt commandvalves, bucket angles, lift linkage angles, lift cylinder velocity, liftcylinder head-end pressures, lift stall statuses, and/or other aspects.

In one embodiment, the input device 112 may be a single device or aplurality of input devices configured to generate a force data signalduring a work operation of the machine 100, such as an earth movingoperation, material loading operation, or other machine work task. In anembodiment, the force data signal that includes fluidic pressureinformation indicative of a pressure of working fluid in the hydrauliclift cylinder 124. By evaluating fluidic pressure information as afunction of time, using the predictive analytical model, the electroniccontrol module 114 may be configured to automatically operate theimpeller clutch 106 during a work operation in nearly all circumstances,earth conditions, soil/work pile densities, etc. Because no two workpiles are identical with respect to material density, weight, aggregatecontent, etc., a recurrent neural network (e.g., the predictiveanalytical model operating in the electronic control module 114) canadjust and adapt in real time similar to a human operator of the machineby emulating responses observed by human operators that have encounteredsimilar conditions (expressed as input data from the input devices). Theaggregated experiences of the human operators used to train theanalytical model provide non-linear responses that adjust to changes andsensed patterns. By comparison, the linear control of conventionalautomatic machine control schemes do not provide efficient impellerclutch control when the work pile is variably dense, has varyingmaterials, weight, etc., because a linear algorithm does not adjust todynamically-changing environmental conditions. Instead, conventionalalgorithms for clutch control relying on unchanging algorithmicresponses that do not dynamically change based on detected patterns,because the output response of the conventional control algorithm isunchanged given a particular input, without regard of subtle patterns inthe input data that may vary with respect to time. A machine learningsystem that employs analytical methods such as, for example, a neuralnetwork, can distinguish subtle patterns in the input data to tailor asystem response that emulates the response of a human operator.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an electronic control module(which may be similar to or identical to the electronic control module114, as shown in FIG. 1). The electronic control module 114 may beconfigured to control an impeller clutch of a machine, such as theimpeller clutch 106 of the machine 100, also depicted in FIG. 1. Theelectronic control module 114 may include one or more processor(s) 302,one or more input device connections(s) 304, one or more outputdevice(s) 306, one or more transceiver(s) 308, and/or acomputer-readable memory 310.

The processor(s) 302 may operate to perform a variety of functions, asset forth herein. In some examples, the processor(s) 302 may include acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), bothCPU and GPU, or other processing units or components known in the art.Additionally, at least some of the processor(s) 302 may possess localmemory, which also may store program modules, program data, and/or oneor more operating systems.

The input device connection(s) 304 can include one or more connectionswith sensors and/or actuators that provide information signals and/ordata indicative of flow rates, gaseous pressure, temperature, speed,exhaust gas composition, machine element positional information, fluidicpressure, etc. Examples of input devices that may be in communicationwith the electronic control module 114 using the input deviceconnection(s) 304 can include the input device 112, 128, and 130, amongothers.

The output device(s) 306 can include one or more other electroniccontrol modules, control mechanisms, etc., which are not shown herein.The output device(s) 306 may provide information to one or more othersystems on the machine 100, or one or more off-board systems incommunication with the machine 100.

The transceiver(s) 308 may include wired and/or wireless connectionsbetween components included on-board the machine 100, and/or computingdevices located off-board the machine 100. For example, the electroniccontrol module 114 may connect via wireless data connection to anothersystem for machine control, communication, or other functionality. Forexample, the transceiver(s) may connect the electronic control module114 with a remote server, machine controller, database, etc. Informationmay be communicated to the one or more processor(s) 302 via one or morenetwork(s) (not shown in FIG. 3), which may include any type of network,such as a public wide-area-network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet), oranother wireless network, which may utilize various differenttechnologies including wired and wireless technologies.

The processor(s) 302 may interact with, or include, computer-readablemedia, which may include volatile memory (e.g., RAM), non-volatilememory (e.g., ROM, flash memory, a miniature hard drive, a memory card,or the like), or some combination thereof. The computer-readable mediamay include the memory 310, and can be non-transitory computer-readablemedia. The computer-readable media may be configured to storecomputer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer,perform various operations associated with the processor(s) 302 toperform the operations described herein. The output device(s) 306 mayalso include additional components not listed above that may perform anyfunction associated with the output device(s) 306.

Example embodiments may be provided as a computer program item includinga transitory machine-readable signal (in compressed or uncompressedform). Examples of machine-readable signals, whether modulated using acarrier or not, include, but are not limited to, signals that a computersystem or machine hosting or running a computer program can beconfigured to access, including signals downloaded through the Internetor other networks. For example, the force data signal as describedherein, may be a machine-readable electronic signal.

According to an embodiment, the memory 310 may store one or more controlmodules including an impeller clutch control engine 312, and a time-steppredictive analytical model 314 (referred to hereafter as “analyticalmodel 314”). The memory 310 may further include information indicativeof one or more relationships between impeller clutch engagement valuesand fluidic pressure information. Although described as being containedwithin the memory 310, it should be appreciated that any one or more ofthe impeller clutch control engine 312, the analytical model 314 may bestored remote from the electronic control module 114, and accessible bythe electronic control module 114 using the one or more transceiver(s)308.

The impeller clutch control engine 312 may include computer-executableinstructions for performing aspects of the present disclosure. Forexample, the impeller clutch control engine 312 may cause theprocessor(s) 302 to receive a force data signal from the fluidicpressure measurement device (e.g., the input device 112 may beconfigured to generate the force data signal by evaluating the signal toisolate fluidic force information such as, for example, informationindicative of one or more of fluidic pressure, changes in fluidicpressure with respect to time, fluidic transfer and/or flow information,etc. The processor(s) 302 may, in some aspects, receive the force datasignal from the input device 112, and/or another input device. In otheraspects, the processor(s) 302 may receive transmission of the force datasignal from one or more input devices 112, 128, 130, etc., that may beconfigured to transmit the data.

The processor(s) 302 may use the force data signal as an input to theanalytical model 314 to determine one or more characteristics ofinterest for automatic control of the impeller clutch 106. For example,the processor(s) 302 may receive the force data signal, process theforce data signal using the analytical model 314, and use the output ofthe analytical model 314 as a clutch engagement setting. Theprocessor(s) 302 may obtain the force data signal, systematically overtime, from one or more input devices, and identify patterns in the forcedata signal(s) that are similar to situations observed in the past(e.g., the training data). The force data signal may include forceinformation indicative of one or more of a velocity of the hydrauliclift cylinder 124, a head-end pressure of the hydraulic lift cylinder124, a stall status of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124 (indicative of astall due to an inability of the machine 100 to continue progressingthrough the work pile at the currently-applied torque), etc. The timeseries force data signal may provide quantitative inputs with respect totime that mathematically describe environmental, mechanical, and otherfactors associated with a dynamically changing work scenario. Forexample, the processor(s) 302 may obtain time-series data (e.g., fluidicforce information indicative of head-end pressure of the hydraulic liftcylinder 124) with respect to time, and evaluate subtle changes in thehead-end pressure of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124. The processor(s)302, using the analytical model 314, may match the input data to the oneor more response in the training data, where the one or more responseswere learned through observing multiple examples of a similar situation.The processor(s) 302 may identify a pattern in the force data signal(e.g., a series of pressure changes in the hydraulic lift cylinder 124,either alone or in conjunction with another type of input). Theprocessor(s) 302 may infer an appropriate response to the current inputdata based on the past data observed by the system (e.g., the computer1102 described hereafter with respect to FIG. 11) due to the networkweights and biases that have been learned during training via one ormore matching algorithms, and subsequently emit an impeller clutchengagement value based on the inferred response. The impeller clutchcontrol engine 312 may instruct the processor(s) 302 to engage theimpeller clutch 106 of the machine 100 according to the impeller clutchengagement value.

The analytical model 314, as referred to herein, is a control frameworkthat can be trained (e.g., generated) by a machine learning system, suchas a machine learning system 1100, described hereafter with respect toFIG. 11. More particularly, the analytical model may be a neural networkor other framework that can be trained using telematics data as aninput. As used herein, telematics data can include machine-generateddata obtained from one or more systems of work vehicles while they arebeing operated in various work operations. According to embodimentsdescribed herein, a feature vector is one aspect of machine controlinformation that may be used to describe a series of values, withrespect to time, where the values are associated with a characteristicof interest. For example, one feature vector may be fluid pressure in ahydraulic cylinder. Another feature vector may be a change in fluidicpressure between an array of fluidic pressure sensors disposed in ahydraulic cylinder, with respect to time. Another example of a featurevector may be an angle, a position, a status (e.g., on, off, etc.), orother characteristics that can describe an aspect of machine operation.The feature vectors obtained from telematics data obtained by recordingsystem response during a work operation performed by a human machineoperator. The telematics data may be the input data for a machinelearning training system (such as, for example, the machine learningsystem 1100 described with respect to FIG. 11) that can generate ananalytical model that mimics the response values of a human machineoperator (e.g., a human machine operator with operational knowledge ofimpeller clutch control), such as the analytical model 314.

A system for training the analytical model 314 (described in greaterdetail hereafter) may be configured to receive a plurality of telematicsdata as an input, where any one of the telematics data includesinformation that describes force data and other information generated bymachine control modules of individual machines during work operation(s)of the machine. The training system can collect feature information ofinterest (e.g., as a function of time) while the machine is operated byan operator. An analytical model (and more specifically, the analyticalmodel 314) may be a trained neural network or other analytical frameworkthat incorporates tens, hundreds, and at times, thousands of examples ofa feature vector values as inputs. The feature vector information candescribe time-stepped values of one or more characteristics of interest,as a machine operator (e.g., an experienced machine operator) performsthe work tasks using a similar machine, in varying conditions. Oncetrained, the analytical model 314 may perform a work operation using theanalytical model 314 without operator input (respective to the trainedfeature of interest), and output a response for the trained featurevector that is similar to or identical to a response of that featurevector if the machine work operation were performed by a human operatorperforming the work.

For example, the machine learning system 1100 (as described hereafterwith respect to FIG. 11) may collect information from tens, hundreds, orthousands of training digs. The machine(s) performing the trainingdig(s) may be configured to generate telematics data indicative oftime-step values of one or more onboard channels that describe aresponse of a characteristic of interest, with respect to time. Eachtraining dig telematics data of the plurality of training dig telematicsdata may describe feature vector information associated with acharacteristic of interest during a work operation performed by a humanmachine operator. A characteristic of interest may be, for example, adegree of impeller clutch engagement expressed as a value between zeroand one with respect to time. Accordingly, using many examples offeature vector response under various work conditions, soil densities,operator styles, etc., a neural network (the analytical model 314) canbe configured to receive, as input, time-step values of a trainedcharacteristic of interest (e.g., the fluidic pressure informationassociated with a hydraulic lift cylinder) during a work operation. Theimpeller clutch control engine 312 can instruct the processor(s) 302 toexecute the analytical model 314, and evaluate the input data using thetrained analytical model 314, and output a control signal using thefeature vector response that mimics or duplicates (within apredetermined margin of error) the output response of a human machineoperator encountering similar conditions. As with all machine learningtraining systems, the predetermined margin of error decreases withrespect to the volume of training data used to train the system.Accordingly, if the training data is few in number, the system responsemay have an error that exceeds tolerable limits when compared to thesystem response of a human operator performing the same work under thesame conditions.

The training system may relate fluidic pressure and other inputs to theimpeller clutch engagement. The training set can include a table havingcolumns of information organized as features, and rows of informationorganized as instances or observations of respective features. Oncetrained, the model can predict the label given features, even when thelabel information is not present. Therefore, the label describes arelationship between features that are input to the system. Morespecifically, many telematics data may be used to train the analyticalmodel 314, and as a practical matter, can often exceed hundreds oftelematics data that describe feature data from a variety of workconditions.

The time-step regression values used by the analytical model 314 may beoptimized during the training process by the machine learning system1100. When trained using a sufficiently large number of telematics data,the analytical model 314 may process the inputs through trainedparameters (weights and biases) to produce (or infer) the desiredresponse. For example, if the input feature vector is x and the modelwas a multi-layer perceptron with two-layers with weights and biases w1,b1, w2, b2 respectively, then the output of the model can bey=tanh(tanh(x #w1+b1) #w2+b1), where # is a matrix multiplication. Arecurrent neural network may be similar, but may contain a cell statethat persists between predictions and input/forget gates that add andsubtract content to the cell state. The cell state may be finallyprocessed through an output gate to yield the prediction/inferencevalue. Accordingly, the processor(s) 302 can cause the analytical model314 to receive a force data signal from one or more input devices viathe input device connections(s) 304, access the analytical model 314 toobtain an optimized set of time-step output values, and generate acontrol signal to operate one or more machine components in a similarmanner as a human operator given the same work conditions. Theanalytical mode1314 can also provide predictive analytics given alimited number of input values, where the analytical model 314 can fillin missing data and predict an output value given a particular input orcombination of inputs, within a predetermined margin of error.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pictorial flow diagram of an example method 400 forcontrolling an impeller clutch 106 of a machine 100 using the analyticalmodel 314, according to an example embodiment. The method 400 may beperformed with a machine such as, for example the machine 100 as shownin FIG. 1. The machine described in the method 400 includes anelectronic control module such as the electronic control module 114described with respect to FIG. 3. In particular, it should beappreciated that the machine 100, or any machine practicing the method400 described herein, may or may not include an impeller clutch pedal orother impeller clutch operation control for manual control of theimpeller clutch 106 by an operator of the machine 100. Regardless ofwhether the machine of method 400 includes a manual clutch controlmechanism, the method 400 describes operations that may replace amanually-controlled impeller clutch with an automated control using theanalytical model 314.

At step 402, the processor(s) 302 obtains the force data signal havingfluidic pressure information of a working fluid in the machine 100. Theforce data signal may indicate a fluidic pressure measurement taken at asingle location (e.g., at the input port of a hydraulic cylinder such asthe hydraulic lift cylinder 124, as depicted in FIG. 1), or a fluidicpressure measurement taken at a plurality of locations (e.g., at aninput port of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124 and at the output port ofthe hydraulic lift cylinder 124). The force data signal, in otheraspects, may be indicative of a velocity of one or more machine 100components such as the work tool 118, the bucket 120, the lift arm 122,or another location. In another aspect, the force data signal may beindicative of a velocity of some aspect of the machine 100 (e.g., avelocity of movement of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124).

In one aspect, the force data signal may be indicative of a workingfluid pressure. A working fluid may be, for example, hydraulic fluid,oil, or another working fluid in the machine 100. The fluidic pressurevalue of the working fluid at discrete points in time (e.g., at eachpredetermined increment of time). For example, the force data signal mayinclude information indicative of a fluidic pressure measurement in kPA.The force data signal may also include information indicative ofsimultaneous measurements of fluidic pressure at two or more locations,which can indicate a flow rate of the working fluid with respect totime, a velocity of the working fluid at a point in time, or anotheraspect of machine operation.

In other aspects, the force data signal can include informationincluding, for example, an angle, a distance measurement, or anoperative status of a machine component. A status of an operation maybe, for example, a stalled status of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124that may indicate whether the hydraulic lift cylinder 124 is stalled(due to encountering material in the work pile with the work tool 118that is impenetrable given a particular applied torque or rimpull), ornot stalled (indicative that the current applied torque or rimpull issufficient or more than sufficient to perform an operation). The forcedata signal may further include information indicative of a level ofactuation of one or more components of the machine 100. For example, theforce data may include information indicative of a level of valveopening of a lift command valve of the hydraulic lift cylinder 124,where the level of valve opening can be a value between 0 (not open) and1 (fully open). Other examples of force data are contemplated.

According to embodiments, the processor(s) 302 may obtain the force dataas a function of time. For example, the force data can be received bythe processor(s) 302 at a predetermined increment of time. In anembodiment, the predetermined increment of time may be every 500milliseconds (ms), every one second, every two seconds, every fiveseconds, etc. The predetermined increment of time may be indicated bythe analytical model 314.

At step 404, the processor(s) 302 may determine the impeller clutchengagement value based on a fluidic pressure value obtained as part ofthe force data. For example, the processor(s) 302 may access theanalytical model 314, which may store a set of impeller clutchengagement values associated with a set of fluidic pressuremeasurements. The processor(s) 302 may select an impeller clutchengagement value by comparing the force data received at step 402 to theset of impeller clutch engagement values using the analytical model 314.

According to an embodiment, comparing may include, for example,determining, with the processor(s) 302, whether a difference between theforce data and a “best fit” value in the analytical model 314 fallswithin a predetermined threshold of error, and selecting the impellerclutch engagement value associated with the best fit value when theerror falls within the predetermined threshold. Other methods ofcomparing are contemplated, and thus, should not be considered limitingas described herein. Regardless of the method of comparison, theprocessor(s) 302 may determine the impeller clutch engagement valuebased on an impeller clutch engagement value associated with the forcedata.

A calculated impeller clutch engagement value may be indicative of afluidic pressure value and a quantitative fit between the fluidicpressure value and a correlated feature vector. For example, the forcedata may be indicative of one or more feature vectors that can includeone or more of a lift cylinder velocity, a lift cylinder head-endpressure, a lift cylinder stalled status, a lift linkage angle, a worktool angle, and a tilt command valve position. Other features arecontemplated. Accordingly, the determined impeller clutch engagementvalue may be one of a series of time-stepped impeller clutch engagementvalues associated with the force data, and best fit into the analyticalmodel 314 using a fluidic pressure value.

By determining the impeller clutch engagement value based on a readingof fluidic pressure or another observed feature, the processor(s) 302may determine a series of appropriate impeller clutch engagement values,as a function of time, between the current observed force data readingand the next scheduled force data reading. In this respect, theanalytical model 314 is predictive, because one or more optimizedimpeller clutch engagement values for a future impeller clutch controlsetting (e.g., the time between an initial point in time, and during themoments intervening that point in time and the next cycle of force datainput, which can be one second later, 5 seconds later, etc.).Accordingly, impeller clutch control settings can be predicted by theprocessor(s) 302, for a future clutch control operation, based on acurrent observation of one or more characteristics of a work operation.

The processor(s) 302 may determine an impeller clutch engagement valuebased at least in part on the force data and the analytical model 314.The impeller clutch engagement value may indicate a value for engagementof the impeller clutch 106. For example, as explained above, a clutchengagement value (or more strictly termed, clutch disengagement value)may be a numeric coefficient between zero (signifying full clutch plateengagement that transfers all available torque to the rimpull) and one(signifying no clutch plate engagement that transfers no availabletorque to the rimpull). Accordingly, the clutch engagement value may beanalogous to an amount that a clutch pedal (if it were used in themachine 100) would be depressed to achieve the desired amount of torque.In one aspect, full engagement can signify a coupling of all availablefrictional engagement to transfer all torque between the power source104 and the transmission unit 110. In another aspect, no engagement, ora clutch engagement value of one can signify no torque being transmittedbetween the power source 104 and the transmission unit 110. In furtheraspects, an impeller clutch engagement value and torque are associatedsuch that a predetermined clutch engagement value can be associated witha predetermined torque value as an output of the transmission unit 110.

At step 406, the processor(s) 302 may engage the impeller clutch 106 ofthe machine 100 according to the force data and the time-step predictiveanalytical model 314. The processor(s) 302 may be configured todetermine the impeller clutch engagement value independent of any signalfrom a manual impeller clutch control. Stated another way, the machine100 may not include a manual impeller clutch control mechanism such as apedal or other operator control. In another aspect, the machine 100 mayinclude an impeller clutch control mechanism, but the processor(s) 302is configured to determine an impeller clutch engagement valueindependent of any signal from a manual impeller clutch control.

At step 408, the processor(s) 302 may retrieve the force data from theinput device 112 of the machine 100. In one aspect, retrieving the forcedata can include retrieving a series of values indicative of fluidicpressure values with respect to time.

At step 410, the processor(s) 302 determines whether the work cycle iscomplete. If the machine is continuously working, which may be indicatedby a fluidic pressure change (or lack of fluidic pressure change), amachine status, an engine status of the power source 104, or anotherindicator, the time increment advances to the next predetermined time todetermine the next impeller clutch engagement. A work cycle may becomplete when the work operation is ceased, the machine 100 is in anidle state, or the machine 100 is otherwise disengaged or shut off.

One goal of efficient control for an impeller clutch is to fill thebucket or other work tool as full as possible with material from a workpile, using a minimal amount of fuel and time. For example, a humanoperator using a manual impeller clutch control may tend to under-engagethe machine impeller clutch and expend more fuel than necessary (byproviding more torque and/or rimpull than is needed to penetrate thepile and fill the bucket). In another example, a human operator, using amanual impeller clutch control, may expend more time and fuel than isnecessary (by over-engaging the impeller clutch, and stalling the bucketin the work pile, which requires additional fuel to back out of the workpile and approach another time). A typical work pile to be moved by amachine can include consistent compactness, or more realistically, maycontain a varying-density mixture of material to be moved. Conventionalalgorithms are not suited for efficient impeller clutch control due tothe varying density of materials, and also due to the varying forces onthe work tool as the bucket penetrates the pile, fills with the bucketor other work tool with material, and is lifted free of the surroundingpile. Stated another way, conventional systems have not provided anautomated impeller clutch control system because the dig media is oftenvaried in density, with aggregate of different sizes, materials, etc.,which necessitates a non-linear control mechanism. The system 102, asdescribed herein, may provide non-linear control of the impeller clutch106 that predictively engages the impeller clutch 106 with impellerclutch engagement values that are based, at least in part, on feedbackdata (e.g., the force data) that may vary throughout the work operation.

As explained in detail hereafter, the optimal impeller clutch engagementvalues may describe optimal impeller clutch engagement (e.g., makepredictions on future settings) based on limited feedback in the form offluidic pressure measurements and/or other information. Accordingly,embodiments described herein provide predictive analysis for force data,which can provide impeller clutch engagement for predicted workconditions that emulate impeller clutch engagement control by a humanoperator of the machine 100.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 depict the machine 100 during an example workoperation on a work pile 500, as the machine 100 executes the method 400described herein. More particularly, at each figure of FIGS. 5-9, themachine 100 may execute an iteration of the method 400 to determine andimplement an optimal impeller clutch engagement value. For example, asthe machine 100 encounters forces that vary throughout the work pile500, new force data is obtained by the electronic control module 114 ateach step that indicates a different clutch engagement value of theimpeller clutch 106 to provide automated impeller clutch control similarto the impeller clutch control of a human machine operator using amanual impeller clutch pedal.

As described with respect to FIGS. 5-9, clutch engagement may beanalogous to depression of an impeller clutch pedal. Accordingly, asused herein, a full clutch engagement refers to the equivalent action ofa full depression of a clutch pedal, if it were it being used on themachine 100. No clutch engagement refers to the equivalent of nodepression of the clutch pedal (e.g., complete engagement of theimpeller clutch 106 to the impeller 108), such that the impeller clutchwould transfer all torque from the power source 104 to the impeller 108and the transmission unit 110.

The work pile 500 may be any material, such as, for example, aggregatematerials mixed with earth (e.g., cement, stone, soil, etc.). Althoughdescribed as earth arranged in a work pile on a flat surface of theground, it should be appreciated that the work pile 500 can be anymaterial moved by a machine, which can include any number of materials,in any arrangement or configuration. Stated another way, the term workpile should be construed more generally as media to be manipulated bythe machine, where the media may be configured in any arrangement.Moreover, as explained previously herein, although depicted as a wheelloader, the machine 100 may be any type of machine, performing othertypes of work tool operations than those described herein, and depictedin FIGS. 5-9.

According to an embodiment, a feedback element from which impellerclutch engagement may be based can include a fluidic pressuremeasurement. Depictions of example fluidic pressure measurements 502,504, 506, 508, and 510 are respectively provided in FIGS. 5-9. Thefluidic pressure measurements 502-510 are shown for demonstrativepurposes only, to provide one possible example of relative measurementof fluidic pressure given an input for the analytical model 314.Accordingly, the fluidic pressure measurement 502-510 may be operativein a feedback loop to dynamically and predictively control the impellerclutch engagement of the machine 100.

Impeller clutch engagement values 512, 514, 516, 518, and 520 arerespectively depicted in FIGS. 5-9. As described herein, the analyticalmodel 314 may access the analytical model 314 to determine impellerclutch engagement values at respective time-steps, using the respectivefluidic pressure measurement 502-510. Torque applied via the powersource 104, as respectively depicted in FIGS. 5-9 as torque 522, 524,526, 528, and 530, may be associated in the analytical model 314 with arespective level of clutch engagement 512-520.

The analytical model 314 may be a time-step predictive analytical model.Accordingly, a time-step indication is depicted at each of FIGS. 5-9. Itshould be appreciated that there may be any number of time steps,although time steps are shown delineated as steps 0-N. It should also beappreciated that there may be optimal impeller clutch engagement valuesthat can vary between discrete time-steps. Accordingly, a fluidicpressure measurement 502-510, alone or in conjunction with anothermachine-made observation of the work operation (not shown), may provideinputs for predictive analysis of an optimal impeller clutch engagementat sub-steps between each of the discrete time-steps 532-540 shown. Forexample, looking at FIG. 5, at time-step 0, a depicted amount ofimpeller clutch engagement 512 is shown to be roughly 0.80 on a scalefrom 0 to 1. However, not shown may be a series of discrete impellerclutch engagement values that intervene time-step 0 and time-step 1. Forexample, if the predetermined time increment in a time-step is a 5second interval, there may be three intervening sub-steps associatedwith a total of 5 (or some other number) impeller clutch engagementvalues, to be implemented at each passing second. Accordingly, theanalytical model 314 may generate a series of fluidic pressure valuesassociated with respective impeller clutch engagement 512, to beexecuted by the processor(s) 302, in order, at regular sub-intervals oftime. Accordingly, impeller clutch control may be optimized for each ofthe sub-time-steps in a predictive fashion based on a single instance offorce data received by the processor(s) 302 from the input device 112(or another input device). This explanation is provided to demonstrateone application of predictive analysis that the processor(s) 302 mayprovide, using the analytical model 314 during the course of a workoperation.

The electronic control module 114 may obtain the fluidic pressuremeasurements 502-510 from one or more input devices such as, forexample, the input device 112. Although the input device 112 isdescribed in embodiments herein as providing force data to theelectronic control module 114, it should be appreciated that the presentembodiments are not necessarily limited to force data obtained from anyparticular input device described herein. The obtained force data mayinclude multiple data from any number of the input devices, which mayrespectively include a single sensor or a plurality of sensors.

Turning attention again to FIG. 5, in an example embodiment, the machine100 may be disposed proximate to the work pile 500. It should beappreciated that the example values for fluidic pressure measurement,impeller clutch engagement, torque, etc., as shown in FIGS. 5-9 areprovided for the purpose of demonstrating one possible embodiment, andto exemplify one way the elements of fluidic pressure measurement,impeller clutch engagement, torque, and time may be interrelated. Theprovided values and system responses are provided as examples only, andare not meant to be specific or limiting.

According to one embodiment, machine operator (not shown) may lower thebucket 120 to a surface of the ground at the base of the work pile 500before engaging the work pile 500 with the work tool 118. At time-step532, the processor(s) 302 may automatically receive force data from theinput device 112, which provides data indicative of the presentcircumstances associated with this work operation. In other aspects, inlieu of automatic receipt of the force data signal, the processor(s) 302may query the input device 112 for data, and receive a data signalhaving the fluidic pressure measurement(s) responsive to the query. Thefluidic pressure measurement 502 obtained by the processor(s) 302 attime-step 532 is shown to be approximately 0.25 of the total workingpressure (from 0 being the lowest working pressure and 1 being thehighest working pressure), as the force of the advancing machine 100engages the bucket 120 into the work pile 500. The respective torque522, which may generally be inversely proportional to the impellerclutch engagement, is shown in FIG. 5 as approximately 0.20 of theavailable torque 522. The processor(s) 302 may determine the valueassociated with the impeller clutch engagement 512 based on the fluidicpressure measurement 502, using the analytical model 314. The analyticalmodel 314 may indicate that, given the present inputs, the impellerclutch engagement 512 that produces the torque 522 (e.g., the fluidicpressure measurement 502), is approximately 0.80 of full impeller clutchengagement.

Although not shown, the analytical model 314 may also instruct theprocessor(s) 302 to implement additional impeller clutch engagementvalues intervening the time-step 532 and time-step 534. The processor(s)302 may engage the impeller clutch 106 as instructed by the analyticalmodel 314 using the fluidic pressure measurement 502.

At FIG. 6, as the bucket 120 is depicted penetrating into the work pile500, and the fluidic pressure measurement 504 shows one example systemresponse of a pressure increase. For example, the fluidic pressuremeasurement 504 increases to approximately 0.70 of the working maximumhydraulic fluid pressure, as the torque 524 also increases (shown inFIG. 6 as about 0.30 of available torque), which may be needed toadvance the bucket 120 into the work pile 500. At time-step 534, theprocessor(s) 302 may obtain the fluidic pressure measurement 504, andaccess the analytical model 314 to determine an impeller clutchengagement value based on the force data signal (the fluidic pressuremeasurement 504 in the present example), and the analytical model 314.Although described herein as a singular measurement, it should beappreciated that the fluidic pressure measurements are periodic anddescribe fluid pressure with respect to time. Based on the fluidicpressure measurement 504, the processor(s) 302 may engage the impellerclutch engagement 514, shown as about 0.60 of full impeller engagement.The reduced impeller engagement, in comparison with the impeller clutchengagement 512 as shown in FIG. 5, may produce increased torque 524(increased with respect to the torque 522).

As shown in FIG. 7, as in a typical wheel loader bucket fill operation,at this point the operator (not shown) may ratchet up the bucket 120from the surface of the ground, by increasing the upward angle of thebucket 120 with respect to the ground level. The increased angle may beobserved by the processor(s) 302 by one or more inputs such as, forexample, data from the input device 130. As the machine 100 begins tostall due to the resistance from the work pile 500 resisting forwardmovement of the work tool 118, the processor(s) 302 may receive theforce data signal from the input device 112, which may include hydraulicfluid pressure data from the input device 112, that is configured formeasuring hydraulic fluid pressure at the hydraulic lift cylinder 124.The processor(s) may also receive other force signals having observedmachine characteristics such as, for example, an angle measurement, orhydraulic fluid pressure at another hydraulic cylinder (not shown) thatactuates angular movement of the bucket 120. The processor(s) 302 maydetermine a value for the impeller clutch engagement 516 based on theforce data obtained by one or more of the input devices 112, 128, and130, and engage the impeller clutch 106 accordingly. The torque 526 mayincrease (for example, to approximately 0.5 of available torque, or someother value). The processor(s) 302, using the analytical model 314 maydetermine a particular impeller clutch engagement 516. The determinedvalue may be based on the fluidic pressure measurement 506 (which in thecase of FIG. 7, may also include angular information or fluidic pressuremeasurements at both the bucket and the hydraulic lift cylinder 124).

As shown in FIG. 8, as the bucket 120 begins to break through the workpile 500, the processor(s) 302 may apply an impeller clutch engagementvalue 518 (or alternatively, a time-stepped series of impeller clutchengagement values that are depicted as the impeller clutch engagementvalue 518), which prevents stalling of the machine 100 due to dynamicforces of the work pile 500. The forces are considered dynamic becausethe material in the work pile shifts due to disturbance from the worktool 118, gravity, etc. The processor(s) 302 may thus provide smooth,efficient impeller clutch control, as the dynamic forces of the workpile 500, and bucket 120 (which may have dynamically-changing mass as itbecomes full) affect the forward-progress of the machine 100.Accordingly, as the bucket 120 begins to break through the work pile500, the processor(s) 302 applies the corresponding amount of impellerclutch engagement value 518 to accomplish the torque 528 at an efficientrate (which may be, in the present example, approximately 0.40 ofavailable torque, and which may be time-stepped with multiple impellerclutch engagement settings not shown that intervene time-steps 536 and538). It should be appreciated that the determined amounts are describedas efficient, optimized, etc., because hundreds or thousands of similartraining digs may be used to develop the analytical model 314. Themachine learning system 1100 may train the analytical model 314 based onstatistical methods applied to machine learning that are known toproduce optimized values for specific inputs (e.g., characteristics ofinterest such as the fluidic pressure measurement 508). Stated inanother way, one benefit of a machine learning system such as the systemdescribed hereafter with respect to FIG. 11 is that the trained modelmay apply learned observations from the hundreds or thousands ofexamples. If a human operator manually operates the impeller clutch 106,an incorrect, insufficient, or non-application of impeller clutchengagement may cause the hydraulic lift cylinder 124 to raise the liftarm 122 too quickly, which would likely result in a partially-fullbucket. The system 102 may produce an optimal amount of the impellerclutch engagement value 518, such that the bucket 120 emerges from thework pile 500 with a full load of material, such that a human operatorcan fill the bucket 120 with minimal fuel, and minimal expended timewithout need of particular expertise.

As shown in FIG. 9, the machine 100 may continue with the work task byfilling the bucket 120. Accordingly, at the time-step 540, theprocessor(s) 302 may obtain the fluidic pressure measurement 510 fromthe input devices (e.g., one or more of the input device 112, the inputdevice 128, and/or the input device 130). The fluidic pressuremeasurement 510 is shown in FIG. 9 as approximately 0.1 of full workingpressure. In the present figure, the relatively lower fluidic pressuremeasurement may indicate that the bucket 120 has broken free from thework pile 500 filled to full-capacity. Accordingly, the processor(s) 302may determine the impeller clutch engagement 520 (shown as about 0.90 ofthe full engagement). The analytical model 314 may determine that thenearly-full impeller clutch engagement level predictably will producethe torque 530, which may be optimal (as determined by the analyticalmodel 314) to maneuver the machine 100 and unload the bucket 120 withoutundue expenditure of fuel. Stated again, the analytical model 314 maydetermine optimized values for controlling the impeller clutch with avolume of training data that provides example system responses invarious situations.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 for training the analytical model 314for impeller clutch control using a recurrent neural network, accordingto an example embodiment. Before describing the method 1000 in greaterdetail, a brief overview of machine learning technology applicable tothe present embodiments is provided. Generally, machine learning refersto scientific study of algorithms and statistical models that computersystems use to progressively improve their performance on a specifictask. Machine learning algorithms are often built using one or moremathematical models of sample data, referred to herein as training data,to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed toperform the task. For example, as used herein, machine learningtechniques (and more specifically supervised machine learning) canprovide statistical models and algorithms that provide predictiveanalytics for system responses to specifically-described feature datasuch as force information that includes fluidic pressure information,torque data, kinetic information, environmental information, and fluidicflow rates, among other information described above.

Supervised learning algorithms may be used to build a mathematical modelof a set of data (training data) that contains both the inputs such asforce data and other characteristics of interest, and the desiredoutputs, such as impeller clutch engagement values and/or machinetorque. As the case in many machine learning algorithms, the trainingdata may include a set of training examples. In embodiments describedherein, the training examples may be distilled from the telematics datausing a machine learning system (such as, for example, the machinelearning system 1100 described with respect to FIG. 11). The trainingexamples may mathematically define control of a machine that hascomponents in common with the machine 100, including an impeller clutch,a hydraulic lift cylinder, etc. In other aspects, the training examplesmay define control of machine tractive effort (aka rimpull, crowd force,etc.) in powertrain designs that use different mechanisms, such as, forexample electric and hydraulic continuously variable transmissions.Traditional powertrains without a clutch may use an electric motor, orhydraulic variator to directly control torque, and may crudely reduceengine speed as an indirect means of reducing torque. In other aspects,non-clutch-driven powertrains may neutralize the transmission as a crudemeans of completely dropping torque. It should be appreciated that,although embodiments are described first as controlling clutchengagement, it should be appreciated that output torque may also bemodulated using the systems and methods described herein. For example,the training examples may include one or more inputs (e.g., the forcedata) and a desired output (e.g., the impeller clutch engagement values,torque modulation values), also known in the art as supervisory signals,and referred to herein as characteristics of interest.

In the mathematical model, the training examples obtained through thetelemetric data may be represented by an array or vector, and thetraining data may be represented by a matrix. Through iterativeoptimization of an objective function, supervised learning algorithmsmay learn one or more functions associated with impeller clutch controland/or machine torque control that can be used to predict an output(e.g., torque engagement values and/or machine torque) associated withvarious inputs (e.g., force data that expresses values indicative of alift cylinder velocity, lift cylinder head-end pressure, lift cylinderstalled status, bucket angles lift linkage angles, tilt command valveinformation, etc.). An optimization function can allow the algorithm tocorrectly determine an optimal clutch engagement and/or machine torqueoutput for given force data inputs that were not a part of the trainingdata. An algorithm that improves the accuracy of its outputs orpredictions over time is said to have learned to perform that task.

Supervised learning algorithms may include classification algorithms andregression algorithms. Classification algorithms may be used when theoutputs are restricted to a limited set of values, and regressionalgorithms may be optimally used when the outputs may possibly have anynumerical value within a range. Accordingly, because there arepredictable ranges for the feature data described herein, regressionalgorithms may be a preferred training method for embodiments describedherein.

Machine learning can generally include several steps: Data collectionand preparation, feature selection, building and training the analyticalmodel, evaluating the trained model, and training the model to optimizeoutputs (e.g., tuning the model). For at least the first three machinelearning operations, it may be preferable to use an artificial neuralnetwork as a framework for the predictive analytical model.

An artificial neural network, as used herein, may be a computingplatform based on a collection of connected units or nodes (sometimescalled artificial neurons), which may be loosely model the neurons in abiological brain. Each connection can transmit information from oneartificial neuron to another. An artificial neuron that receives asignal can process it and then signal additional artificial neuronsconnected to it. In common neural network implementations, the signal ata connection between artificial neurons may be a real number, and theoutput of each artificial neuron can be computed by some non-linearfunction of the sum of its inputs. One type of artificial neural networkthat may be a complementary framework for the analytical model 314 maybe a recurrent neural network. For example, a gated recurrent unit (GRU)neural network may be well-suited to generate the analytical model 314,because of its utility in determining optimized weights for particularvalues of input. Other analytical model architectures for sequentialprediction known by one skilled in the art may be also used, such as,for example, a temporal convolutional network.

For example, a GRU network may use back-propagation and stochasticgradient descent to find optimal sets of weights that predict what everytime step in the impeller clutch engagement and/or torque responseshould have been. In the example described with respect to FIG. 5, thetime-step 532 may have a plurality of smaller increment steps (notshown) between time increments 0 and 1. Where the fluidic pressureinformation is obtained at each time step, the analytical model 314 mayprovide, for each of the plurality of smaller increment steps, valuesfor the impeller clutch engagement 520. Back-propagation and stochasticgradient descent methods may also be effective in determining optimalweights that can effectively increase the accuracy of the analyticalmodel 314. The weights for analytical model inputs may be developed by amachine learning system (e.g., the machine learning system 1100) bytraining the system with telematics data, or portions of the telematicsdata.

For example, as a brief overview of how an analytical model such as theanalytical model 314 is trained, the machine 100 may be used in atraining dig to obtain fluidic pressure information of a working fluid(not shown) with respect to time during the training dig. The fluidicpressure information can originate from one or more sensors positionedin various areas of the machine 100. For example, the fluidic pressureinformation may be obtained from direct pressure measurement of ahydraulic cylinder that may be fluidly connected with the working fluid,obtained from moving parts of the machine 100 as kinetic force values,angular momentum, or other such values obtained from or near drivetraincomponents. In another example, one or more sensors may be positioned toobtain kinematic information as a function of time, or positioninformation with respect to time, etc. Many of such sensors weredescribed with respect to FIG. 2. The fluidic pressure information (andother information) may be recorded on-board the machine 100 using thesystem 102 (FIG. 2) to produce and record time-step sequences of values.The fluidic pressure information may be included as part of thetelematics data (recorded on-board the machine 100). The telematics datamay include many channels of information (from instrumented sensorsshared by multiple machines, and some channels of information associatedwith a subset of the work machines). For example, the fluidic pressureinformation may be a time-step set of values (or a plurality of sets)recording fluidic pressures of a working fluid in the machine 100, onone or more channels, over the course of time.

The telematics data can include recorded sets of time-step values, wherethe values indicate and/or include time-stepped observations ofmechanical, functional, and environmental conditions recorded on-boardthe machine 100 (and/or other machines) during the training dig(s). Therecorded sets of values may include time-stepped observations recordedas time-sequenced information sourced from any number of separatechannels. For example, the machine 100 may record multiple kinematicchannels configured to provide input data associated with machinemovement during the training dig(s). Example kinematic channels caninclude linkage angles, inertial measurement unit (IMU) output, fluidicpressures, machine speeds, steering angles, etc. Moreover, channel datacan include information indicative of how these types of input datachange with respect to time. Accordingly, single channel data maydescribe fluidic pressure values measured and/or otherwise observed atone or more locations of the machine 100, such as at the hydraulic liftcylinder 124, or at another location described with respect to FIG. 2.The machine 100 may sense various drivetrain channels as part oftelematics data, such as, for example, telematics data that recordstime-sequenced values associated with transmission torque, engine speed,operational gear changes, etc. The drivetrain channels may also includeinformation indicative of how drivetrain-related sources of input datachange with respect to time. The machine 100 may record the telematicsdata various drivetrain channels in a computer-readable memory eitheron-board or off-board the machine 100.

The machine 100 may also include environmental factor channelsassociated with physical aspects of the working environment.Environmental factor channels can include temperature, precipitation,humidity, and other weather-related factors that may affect the workenvironment. In other aspects, the environmental factor channels caninclude work site information associated with a physical aspect of thework pile (e.g., the work pile 500). For example, a work pile evaluatorchannel may include a computer-analyzed feed of observed work pilemakeup, where the computer-analyzed feed describes the material beingmoved by the machine 100. An example material may be sand, aggregate,mixed-media (cement and soil), pebble, road base material, asphalt, etc.Accordingly, an environmental factor input device, such as a camera, mayobtain live video information of the work site, an electronic controlunit may analyze the video information to determine the makeup of thework pile, and transmit a time-step data signal comprising perceptiondata to the electronic control module 114, where the perception data isindicative of the environmental condition that may affect the accuracyof a particular analytical model used for predicting the impeller clutchengagement values and/or torque control values.

The machine 100 may record the telematics data, which may includemultiple channels simultaneously recorded during a dig event (e.g., atraining dig). For example, the telematics data is determined by one ormore sensors (e.g., the input devices 112, 128, 130, etc.), the sensorssend signals to the processor(s) (e.g., the processor(s) 302), and theprocessor(s) store the information in the signals within a memory (e.g.,the memory 310). The machine learning system described herein may usethe telematics data as an input, process the telematics data bysegmenting it into portions that may, in turn, be used to train ananalytical model. Once an analytical model is trained, the model may beconfigured in an electronic control module of a machine (e.g., themachine 100), to receive inputs in real time, and output a controloutput based on the real-time inputs. For example, the fluidic pressureinformation may be used as the real-time input, or it may be coupledwith other observations to output control signals such as, for example,an impeller clutch control signal that causes the processor(s) 302 toengage and disengage an impeller clutch of the machine 100 in real time,and/or generate and transmit a torque output control signal thatmodulates the machine 100 torque response in real time.

Now directing attention to FIG. 10, a flow chart of a method 1000 isshown, according to an embodiment. The method 1000 describes methods fortraining the analytical model 314. At step 1002, the system 102 mayobtain fluidic pressure information of a working fluid in a machinehydraulic cylinder as a function of time. The system 102 may obtainfluidic pressure information of a working fluid in the machine 100hydraulic lift cylinder 124 (or another input device) as a function oftime. The system 102 may obtain data from a single channel, or frommultiple channels simultaneously. For example, in some aspects, only thefluidic pressure information may be obtained by the system 102 and/orthe machine learning system 1100.

The machine learning system may obtain the fluidic pressure informationduring one or more training dig events, where a human operator controlsthe machine 100 (or a similar machine), and the system 102 records aplurality of channels simultaneously as the telematics data describedherein. Although described herein as a single dig event, it should beappreciated that telematics data obtained during multiple training digevents may be used for training the analytical model 314. For example,the telematics data obtained from a plurality of training dig events maybe compiled by an off-board machine learning system (that is, a systemthat is remote from and/or otherwise distinct from the machine(s)described herein). As a practical matter, obtaining the fluidic pressureinformation for training the analytical model may include compilingtens, hundreds, or perhaps thousands of telematics data, where thetelematics data are respectively sourced from a different training digevent. The training system (e.g., the machine learning system 1100, asdescribed hereafter with respect to FIG. 11) may process a plurality oftraining dig events in the machine learning system 1100. A singletraining event may include the telematics data recorded during thetraining dig event, where a human operator performs the dig event usinga machine similar to the machine 100, and the system 102 records thevarious channels of data simultaneously. The machine learning system1100 may compile the telematics data that were previously recordedon-board the human-operated machine(s) during the dig event(s). Thecompiled telematics data (e.g., the telematics data 1122) may be used togenerate the training set that associates aspects of the telematics datawith other observations recorded during a plurality of dig events. Ifthe analytical model 314 is a neural network, the training set may be apreliminary structure similar to the analytical model 314, and mayinclude neural net weights and biases associated with the trainedaspects of the telematics data from the training dig events. With anadequate number of training dig events, the analytical model 314 (whenexecuted by an electronic control module in a machine) may operateaspects of the machine 100 in a wide array of situations, soil types,machine responses, operator procedures, etc.

The system 102, used for control of the impeller clutch and/or torqueoutput of the machine 100, may also operate as a data collection systemthat obtains the telematics data during the training dig events. Thetelematics data may be saved in a computer memory (e.g., the memory 310as shown in FIG. 3), and/or may be transmitted to one or more connecteddevices via a transceiver(s) on-board the machine 100 (e.g., thetransceiver(s) 308). The one or more connected devices may be, forexample, the computer 1102 shown with respect to FIG. 11. The telematicsdata 1122 may further include raw data from a plurality of data channelson-board the machine (e.g., the plurality of machines 1124).Accordingly, obtaining the fluidic pressure information may includeobtaining data from a single data channel (e.g., fluidic pressure valueswith respect to time), or it can include obtaining a plurality oftime-step information from a plurality of channels, (e.g., thetelematics data 1122) of which the fluidic pressure values with respectto time may be only a single aspect among a plurality of simultaneouslyrecorded data channels. More particularly, the system 102 (on-board themachine 100) may record the telematics data during the training digevent(s), and save the telematics data on-board a computer memoryoperatively connected with the electronic control module 114 on-boardthe machine 100 performing the recording.

At step 1004, the machine learning system 1100 may transfer the fluidicpressure information from one or more of the plurality of machines 1124to the machine learning system 1100. The data transfer may be wired orwireless data transfer. Looking briefly at FIG. 11, one or more of theplurality of machines 1124 may provide the telematics data 1122 to oneor more computers of the machine learning system 1100 (e.g., thecomputer 1102) via one or more transceiver(s) (e.g., the transceiver(s)1110 as shown in FIG. 11). After one or more training dig events hastaken place, the machine learning system 1100 may provide (i.e.,transmit, transfer, stream, etc.) the telematics data to the computer1102 from the one or more electronic control modules (e.g., theelectronic control module 114 as shown in FIG. 1) on-board the machine100 via wired or wireless data transfer method. Once transferred to themachine learning system 1100, the machine learning system 1100 may storethe telematics data 1122 in a computer memory such as, for example, atelematics data storage 1120, or in another computer memory (e.g.,memory 1112).

At step 1006, the machine learning system 1100 may generate a trainingset (such as, for example, the training set 1116, as shown in FIG. 11)based on the fluidic pressure information. The analytical model 314 canbe trained on the training set 1116 using a supervised learning method(e.g. batch gradient descent or stochastic gradient descent). Inpractice, the training dataset may include pairs of an input vector (orscalar) and the corresponding output vector (or scalar), which iscommonly denoted as the target (or label). As described herein,analytical model 314 can be a recurrent model that may be iterativelytrained by processing the training data extracted from the telematicsdata 1122, to produce an output that can be compared with the targetdata (e.g., the observed system responses from the telematic data).Based on a result of the comparison, and the learning algorithm beingused, the features of the training set 1116 and/or the parameters andhyperparameters of the analytical model 314 may be adjusted using theiterative techniques described hereafter. The iterative approach tomodel fitting can include both feature selection and featureengineering, as understood in the art.

The training set 1116 may include raw data having multiple channels,where one or more of the channels can be isolated from the telematicsdata 1122. For example, the machine learning system 1100 may isolatedata of interest from the telematics data 1122 by removing extraneouschannel data from the telematics data 1122 such that only the data ofinterest remains, and reshape the isolated data into the training set1116. The machine learning system 1100 may construct a computation graphinvolving a tensor structure from the isolated data. The training set1116 may be, at its core, a tensor structure. As appreciated in the artof machine learning, a tensor structure may be embodied as a data object(or a container) that can house data in N dimensions. It maysubsequently be processed by a computation graph represented by linearand non-linear operations of that data. Accordingly, the dimensions ofthe N dimensions in the tensor structure, as described herein, caninclude various channel data extracted from the telematics data 1122.Examples of the tensor structured data may include system responsevalues such as, for example, time-stepped values for machine torqueoutput, fluidic pressure, kinetic channel data, drivetrain channel data,environmental channel data, etc. The computation graph can includedescriptions of the linear and non-linear transformations betweendifferent tensors. Stated another way, a computation graph can includemathematical operations and non-linear activation functions applied tothe fluidic pressure and other tensor-structured channel data during thecourse of a training dig. Examples of such mathematical transformations,or relations, can include the cross product and the dot product of twomatrices of values, where the values are associated with characteristicsof interest such as fluidic pressure information and other channel data.

The machine learning system 1100 may construct the tensor structureusing one or more data sequences extracted from the telematics data1122, where the sequences represent values for characteristics ofinterest over time. The one-dimensional sequences may be, for example,the fluidic pressure values with respect to time, with pressure valuesamples taken periodically (e.g., 1 second intervals, 5 secondintervals, etc.). The machine learning system 1100 may reshape thetensor structure size for running through the analytical engine 316during a testing phase by generating sequences of equal length timeintervals. For example, one-dimensional data such as time-step fluidicpressure values observed during a multitude of digs may be re-shapedinto sequences of equal length (or approximately equal length) timeintervals.

Generating the training set 1116 may include iteratively improving thetraining set 1116 with additional features to test whether thatparticular feature improves or diminishes the training set 1116. Addinga new feature vector can include isolating the channel information fromthe telematics data, and processing the time-step data as a featurevector. As explained hereafter with respect to FIG. 11, a systemprocessor (e.g., one or more processor(s) 1104) of the machine learningsystem 1100 may isolate one or more characteristics of interest from thetelematics data 1122, such as fluidic pressure indicative of a liftcylinder velocity, a lift cylinder head-end pressure, a lift cylinderstalled status, a lift linkage angle, a work tool angle, a tilt commandvalve position, etc.

Isolating a characteristic of interest from the telematics data 1122 caninclude, for example, extracting a single channel from the telematicsdata 1122 such that the machine learning engine 1114 (FIG. 11) mayisolate time-step values for a single channel, and saving the time-stepvalues as one or more independent one-dimensional arrays of values.

In another aspect, isolating a characteristic of interest can includeextracting a single channel from a multitude of training digs saved inthe telematics data 1122, and performing one or more mathematicaloperations on the extracted feature vector data that combines thevarious sets of feature vectors (from the multiple training digs) intosecondary calculated channels. These secondary calculated channels maybe combined together with the raw channels to form a single masterfeature vector. The operations may include temporal averaging ofspecific channels of the multitude of feature vectors of the multipletraining digs represented in the telematics data 1122, performing atemporal statistical computations of the extracted channel information,and/or performing other mathematical operation on the feature vectordata such that a resultant output of the extraction includes the singlelabel and a single set of feature vector values. At a minimum, thefeature vector of interest can include the fluidic pressure valuesextracted from the telematics data 1122.

The training set 1116 may be a three-dimensional data structure storinga set of values for fluidic pressure measurements with a set of impellerclutch engagement values and/or machine torque values. The training set1116 can include a table having columns of information organized asfeatures (feature vectors), and rows of information organized asinstances or observations of respective features. Once trained, theanalytical model 314 model can describe and predict a relationshipbetween features that are input to the system (e.g., fluidic pressure)and the machine output values (e.g., impeller clutch engagement and/ortorque output).

Generating the training set can further include separating and/orsegmenting the telematics data 1122 into two distinct data sets thatinclude a training portion and a test portion. The training portion maybe used to create the training set(s), and thus, can often be thelargest of the two portions. For example, a larger proportion of thetelematics data 1122 may be segmented into the training portion becausethe increased number of observations used for training a model canincrease the accuracy of the analytical model. When the number ofrecorded observations is relatively large, the training set may becomeincreasingly complete as more combinations of inputs and outcomes areobserved and correlated by the machine learning system 1100. When themachine learning system 1100 has an input dataset that is sufficientlylarge (e.g., the training portion includes tens, hundreds, and/orthousands of examples of training dig information), the trainedanalytical model 314 can handle any number of real-life dig situationsin a way similar to a human operator.

The test portion may be substantially smaller than the training portion(e.g., the test portion may be 5%-20% of the overall body of telematicsdata 1122, whereas the training portion may be 80%-95% of the telematicsdata 1122). The test portion may serve as the input to a trained model(e.g., the analytical model 314 trained with the training data 116). Inanother embodiment, the machine learning system 1100 may segment thetelematics data 1122 (which may be raw data recording a plurality ofdata channels on-board the machine 100, during a plurality of test digs)into three data sets, including a training portion, a validationportion, and a test portion. The validation portion may be segmented asa distinct and separate portion of the telematics data 1122 to avoidoverfitting the analytical model 314 to a held-out dataset duringhyperparameter optimization. Accordingly, as understood in the art ofmachine learning, during a validation process for validating thetraining set, without segmenting a third portion for validation that isnot used in training, an inaccurate model may result and yet remainundetected during the testing phase, where the errors are be attributedto iteratively training the analytical model against the test data whilevarying the hyperparameters. For example, when the analytical model 314is embodied as a neural network, the machine learning system 1100 mayiteratively generate the neural network by passing extracted featurevectors from the training portion of the telematics data 1122 into thetraining set 1116, to identify an output for a given set of inputs.

An iterative process of passing extracted feature vectors through thetraining set 1116 is described in the following steps (e.g., step 1008and step 1010), where the machine learning system 1100 may select one ormore inputs (which may include inputs associated with fluidic pressure)and test the inputs during the training phase, to select the bestfeatures which have unique informational content and by identifying andeliminating particular combinations of inputs with correlations.Combinations of inputs can include, for example, time-sequenced inputsof fluidic pressure values, combined with one or more other inputs suchas, for example, an angular momentum of the work tool with respect totime, etc. For example, the machine learning system 1100 may beconfigured to identify a known correlation between specific inputs,where those inputs are known to be predictive of the system response.Examples of known correlations of inputs may include inputs such asfluidic pressure and machine torque output, fluidic pressure and angularmomentum of a work tool, etc. In other aspects, the machine learningsystem 1100 may identify an unknown correlation between the inputsthrough machine learning techniques. For example, previously unknowncorrelations between machine torque output and/or impeller clutchengagement may exist that would be indistinguishable by a human observeralone, where only a machine learning system such as the machine learningsystem 1100 could detect the correlation using known techniques.

At step 1008, the machine learning system 1100 may determine whether theselected characteristics (e.g., the one or more inputs described above)have an impact on the impeller clutch control. Accordingly, the machinelearning system 1100 may select one or more characteristics of interestas inputs, and evaluate whether the selected characteristic(s) impactthe impeller clutch control. For example, the machine learning system1100 may isolate, in one or more of the training data portion and thetest data portion, a second channel data set associated with at leasttwo channels of the plurality of data channels, where the second channeldata set can include the second fluidic pressure information associatedwith the observed machine torque response values and/or impeller clutchengagement values, and can also include a second data channel data set.In one embodiment, the second channel data set may include a set ofvalues indicative of one or more of i) a lift cylinder velocity, ii) alift cylinder head-end pressure, iii) a lift cylinder stalled status,iv) a lift linkage angle, v) a work tool angle, and/or vi) a tiltcommand valve position. Other channel data is contemplated, and thus,the enumerated channel data examples given herein are not meant to beexclusive.

Once the machine learning system 1100 selects a set of inputs, theinputs for the selected feature vector may be iteratively extracted asthe one-dimensional training set 1116 and fit by the analytical model314 to evaluate any difference between the outcome of the analyticalmodel 314 and an expected outcome (e.g., an observed system responsevalue) observed by the real-life data recorded during training dig(s).The difference may be expressed as a numeric value indicative of asystem response error that can be compared to an acceptable thresholdvalue for error. The training process may be iterative in that itselects two or more channels of data that are known to be associatedwith predicting impeller clutch engagement values, or that may beassociated with predicting torque output values. When the degree oferror in any given iterative test falls within an acceptable degree oferror (e.g., 95% accurate, 80% accurate, etc.), the machine learningsystem 1100 may correlate the two or more channels and confirm that thecorrelation has a material impact on the resultant analytical model(e.g., the analytical model 314) that increases an accuracy of controloutput. It should be appreciated that the predetermined thresholdsdescribed herein are example threshold values only, and should not beconsidered limiting.

According to one embodiment, determining a response error may beaccomplished using various known techniques, including for example,correlation coefficient comparison of various input channels compared tothe output channel(s) associated with the system response. In anotheraspect, determining the response error may include recursive featureelimination, where the analytical model 314 is built using combinationsof the input channels from the training set 1116. This processrecursively groups input channels into fewer and fewer combinationsuntil a critical few input channels remain as part of the training set1116 that have a notable positive impact on system response accuracy (orstated in another way, create a system response having a minimizedsystem response error).

At step 1010, based at least in part on determining that the firstsystem response error is less than or equal to the threshold errorvalue, the machine learning system 1100 may generate the analyticalmodel 314 based on the training set 1116. The process may be iterativesuch that the analytical model 314 is generated from a first version ofthe training set 1116, where other training sets generated did notincrease the accuracy rate when tested with the test data portion. Inother aspects, a subsequent training set may be used to generate theanalytical model 314, as the subsequent training set(s) improve theaccuracy of the analytical model 314, while maintaining a predeterminedmodel size that may be supported by an electronic control module inapplied use. A model size of the analytical model 314 may refer to asize in megabytes of data, and/or may refer to a processing costassociated with executing the model on an electronic control module.

The training process may be iterative in that, when a calculated degreeof error falls outside of the predetermined threshold for accuracy, themachine learning system 1100 may replace one or more of the channelswith one or more different channels, or simply remove the one or morechannels. For example, at step 1012, the machine learning system 1100may determine whether the analytical model 314 generates output within apredetermined threshold for accuracy. More particularly, the machinelearning system 1100 may generate the training set 1116 that includesfluidic pressure information associated with observed machine torqueresponse values or impeller clutch engagement values, and, once theanalytical model 314 is trained, compute a plurality of test systemresponse values using the test set 1117. The machine learning system1100 may compare the first plurality of test system response values witha plurality of observed machine torque response values, and determine,based at least in part on the comparing, a system response error.

At step 1012 the machine learning system 1100 may determine whether theanalytical model 314 produces a result within a predetermined thresholdfor accuracy. The testing and refining process may continue multipletimes using the test set 1117, until the degree of error between thesystem response generated by passing the test portion of the telematicsdata 1122 into the test set 1117 reaches a consistent and acceptableminimum with respect to observed system response values (again,extracted from the test portion of the telematics data 1122). Forexample, multiple training dig data sets may be extracted from thetelematics data 1122, and may be processed into the training set 1116 byisolating, in one or more of the training data portion and the test dataportion, a second channel data set associated with at least two channelsof the plurality of data channels. In some aspects, the second channeldata set can include the fluidic pressure information associated withthe impeller clutch engagement values, and also include a second datachannel that was observed in step 1008 to impact the impeller clutchcontrol of the machine 100. The machine learning system 1100 may computea second plurality of test system response values based, at least inpart, on a second training set associated with an observed machinetorque response.

In practical application, the impeller clutch control system may operateon an electronic control module of a machine (e.g., the electroniccontrol module 114). In some aspects, electronic control modules mayhave a limited computational capacity. For example, processing speed,computer memory, etc. may limit the electronic control module 114 toprocessing predictive analytical models up to a particular data size,because the electronic control module may also perform othercomputational tasks associated with machine 100 function. In otheraspects, the electronic control module 114 may be dedicated to asingular purpose of controlling machine torque and/or impeller clutchengagement, and still have practical limitations with respect toanalytical model complexity and size. In view of this balance betweenaccuracy and operability, while accuracy of the analytical model 314 mayincrease with added channels and complexity, the accuracy may beoutweighed by the computational cost needed to run the model. Therefore,it may be advantageous to add a plurality of channels (e.g., multiplecharacteristics of interest) to the training set 1116 until a minimumerror is consistently observed when processing the test set 1117.Moreover, in view of balancing computational cost, it may beadvantageous to remove one or more of the characteristics of interestfrom the training set 1116, and evaluate the effect on the overallerror. It may also be advantageous to remove one or more characteristicsof interest that have relatively small impact on the overall responseerror. Although in one aspect the error may increase by removing the oneor more channels from the training set 1116, if (after evaluating testdata with the reduced channel training set) the resultant error fallswithin the threshold of allowable error, the relatively higher error maybe preferable over the increased computational cost. For example, if theerror may be decreased by 1.5% when two additional channels areincorporated into the training set 1116, yet the incorporation of thosesame two channels increases the computational workload on the ECM by adisproportionate amount (e.g., 10%, 20%, 50%, etc.), it may beadvantageous to select the increased system response error in view of asimplified analytical model. The reduced workload for the processor(s)302 of the electronic control module 114 may outweigh the increasedefficiency of the more complex model.

Accordingly, at step 1012, the machine learning system 1100 maydetermine whether the analytical model 314 generates data within theaccuracy threshold, and also determine whether the analytical model 314created at the prior step 1010 may be tuned by adding or removingadditional channels.

At step 1014, responsive to determining that the second system responseerror is less than or equal to a threshold value for system responseerror, and responsive to determining that the second system responseerror is less than the first system response error, the machine learningsystem 1100 may generate the analytical model 314 based on the trainingset 1116.

When a degree of error between the expected system response generated bythe test set results in a minimized loss (error) when compared to theactual system response observed during the test dig(s), then thetraining process may be considered complete. At step 1014, the machinelearning system 1100 may save the parameters of the analytical model 314to a persistent memory (e.g., the analytical model data storage 1118).

At step 1016, the machine learning system 1100 may provide theanalytical model 314 to an electronic control module of the machine 100(e.g., the electronic control module 114 as shown in FIG. 3) for use ina live dig scenario. Flashing the analytical model 314 to the electroniccontrol module may include transmitting the analytical model 314 fromthe analytical model data storage 1118 to one or more of the pluralityof machines 1124 via the transceiver(s) 1110, or via another wired orwireless connection.

FIG. 11 depicts the machine learning system 1100 (hereafter “system1100”), according to an embodiment. In one aspect, the machine learningsystem 1100 includes a computer 1102, that may be operatively connectedwith one or more of a plurality of machines 1124. The computer 1102 maybe off-board the machine 100, and may be operatively connected to one ormore data storage units including, for example, a telematics datastorage 1120 (that may be configured to store information including, forexample, the telematics data 1122, the training set 1116, and the testset 1117) and an analytical model data storage 1118 that may beconfigured to store the analytical model 314. The computer 1102 mayinclude the one or more processor(s) 1104, the one or more inputdevice(s) 1106, the one or more output device(s) 1108, the one or moretransceiver(s) 1110, and the memory 1112.

The processor(s) 1104 may operate to perform a variety of functions, asset forth herein. For example, the processor(s) 1104 may be configuredto perform system processing steps using one or more computing enginessuch as, for example, the machine learning engine 1114 depicted in thememory 1112. For example, the processing steps may include obtainingfluidic pressure information indicative of fluidic pressure of a workingfluid in a hydraulic cylinder of a machine as a function of time, andgenerating one or more training sets that include fluidic pressureinformation, where the fluidic pressure information is associated withobserved machine torque response values. In other aspects, theprocessor(s) 1104 may compute a plurality of test system response valuesusing the one or more training sets. The processor(s) 1104 may performcomparisons of the machine torque response values with observed machinetorque response values, and generate system response errors associatedwith particular training sets used to generate the values. The systemresponse errors may inform whether one or more changes to the trainingset(s) can improve an analytical model generated using the trainingsets. The processor(s) 1104 can also provide the time-step predictiveanalytical model 314 to the plurality of machines 1124, such that theanalytical model 314 configures the machine(s) to control output torqueand/or provide impeller clutch control. In some examples, theprocessor(s) 1104 may include a central processing unit (CPU), agraphics processing unit (GPU), both CPU and GPU, or other processingunits or components known in the art. Additionally, at least some of theprocessor(s) 1104 may possess local memory, which also may store programmodules, program data, and/or one or more operating systems.

The input device(s) 1106 may include a keypad, a cursor control, atouch-sensitive display, voice input device, etc. The output device(s)1108 may include devices such as displays, speakers, printers, hapticfeedback, etc. The input device(s) 1106 may include one or more of theinput devices described with respect to the system 102. The inputdevice(s) 1106 may further include other input devices such as, forexample, keyboard, a mouse, touchscreen, microphone, etc.

The transceiver(s) 1110 can connect the computer 1102 with the pluralityof machines 1124 through one or more network connection(s) 1126. Theplurality of machines may be configured to provide the telematics data1122 to the computer 1102, or another system accessible by the computer1102. The transceiver(s) 1110 may include wired and/or wirelessconnections between components included on-board the machines 1124,and/or computing devices located off-board the machines 1124 such as,for example, the computer 1102. The transceiver(s) may connect thecomputer 1102 with a remote server (not shown), machine controlleron-board any one or more of the plurality of machines 1124, a database,(e.g., a training set other than the training set 1116), etc.Information may be communicated to the one or more processor(s) 1104 viaone or more network connection(s) 1126, which may include any type ofnetwork, such as a public wide-area-network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet),or another wireless network, which may utilize various differenttechnologies including wired and wireless technologies.

The processor(s) 1104 may interact with, or include, computer-readablemedia, which may include volatile memory (e.g., RAM), non-volatilememory (e.g., ROM, flash memory, a miniature hard drive, a memory card,or the like), or some combination thereof. The computer-readable mediamay include the memory 1112, and can be non-transitory computer-readablemedia. The computer-readable media may be configured to storecomputer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer,perform various operations associated with the processor(s) 1104 toperform the operations described herein.

The computer 1102 may employ one or more algorithms, such as asupervised learning algorithm (e.g., an artificial neural network,Bayesian statistics, support vector machines, decision trees, randomforest, classifiers, k-nearest neighbor, etc.), unsupervised learningalgorithms (e.g., artificial neural networks, association rule learning,hierarchical clustering, cluster analysis, etc.), semi-supervisedlearning algorithms, deep learning algorithms, etc. The computer 1102may further include a GRU neural network.

The memory 1112 may include the machine learning engine 1114 andinformation associated with building the analytical model 314, such atraining set 1116. The memory 1112, telematics data storage 1120 andanalytical model data storage 1118 are all examples of computer-readablestorage media. Computer-readable storage media include, but are notlimited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), content-addressable memory (CAM),or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to storethe desired information and which can be accessed by the computer 1102.Any such tangible computer-readable media, such as the analytical modeldata storage 1118 and the telematics data storage 1120 can be part ofthe computer 1102.

Telematics data can include operational data from one or more machines(e.g., the machines 1124) collected through GPS receivers, engineinterfaces (e.g., electronic control modules, etc.), on-board SIM cards,accelerometers, sensor data, etc. Telematics data systems collectoperational data associated with hardware operation and sensor data,such as position, speed, operational time, braking functions, drivingfunctions, work tool functions, etc. The telematics data associated withthe plurality of machines 1124 may further include, but are not limitedto, a location of a work site at which a work session (or training digoperation) is performed, an utilization of a particular machine, and/ora specification and health of the corresponding machine, an impellerclutch type, an impeller type, a traction device type, etc. In anexample, telematics data may include parameters related to operation ofa particular machine, for example, speed, heading direction, location ofthe machine, or any other machine sensory information associated withone or more machine of the plurality of machines 1124. Machine sensorinformation may include time-step data indicative having forceinformation that can include the force data indicative of fluidicpressure in a hydraulic lift cylinder as a function of time, liftcylinder velocity as a function of time, lift cylinder head-end pressureas a function of time, stall status of a lift cylinder as a function oftime, etc. The telematics data may further include positionalinformation indicative of a bucket angle with respect to time, aposition or other property of a tilt command valve, an angle of a liftart with respect to time, etc. In other aspects, the telematics data mayalso include a unique identifier for the particular machines that havegenerated the telematics data, date and time information, worksiteinformation such as work pile composition information, and/or otherinformation.

The machine-generated telematics data may include characteristic dataassociated with one or more functionalities/characteristics of interest(e.g., fluid hydraulic pressures with respect to time) associated with aparticular machine (and more practically, a plurality of machines). Thecharacteristics may be, for example, force measurements taken at variouslocations of the machine such as fluidic pressure measurements or otherinformation. As described herein, the telematics data can include dataassociated with a single characteristic of machine operation (e.g.,velocity of the machine with respect to time during the work operation),or it may include data associated with various functions of the machine(e.g., changes in fluidic pressures with respect to time).

According to an embodiment telematics data may be isolated in part toshow a time-step system response with respect to a specificcharacteristic of interest. For example, the training dig telematicsdata for a single machine of the plurality of machines 1124 may includea complete record of all fluid pressure readings during the dig as afunction of time. The processor(s) 1104 may isolate the fluid pressurereadings, and one or more other observations taken at the same time asthe fluid pressure readings.

The training set 1116 may be stored in the memory 1112, and can includetrained vector features extracted from the telematics data 1122, whereclutch engagement values are associated with optimized weight values fora respective vector feature.

Embodiments may be illustrated and described as a logical flow graphs,the operation of which representing a sequence of operations. At leastsome of which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combinationthereof. In the context of software, the operations representcomputer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readablestorage media that, when executed by one or more processors, perform therecited operations. Generally, computer-executable instructions includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the likethat perform particular functions or implement particular abstract datatypes. The order in which the operations are described is not intendedto be construed as a limitation, and any number of the describedoperations can be combined in any order and/or in parallel to implementthe process.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The exemplary systems and methods of the present disclosure may provideimpeller clutch control, automatically, using a computer-implementedelectronic control module in a machine that does not receive impellerclutch input from the operator. Using the disclosed system, machine, andmethods for training the analytical models and training set can provide,a human machine operator may benefit from automated impeller clutchcontrol that emulates clutch control of a human operator, in virtuallyunlimited working conditions, when the analytical model is adequatelytrained. Accordingly, efficiencies are immediately gained with respectto time, fuel consumption during a given work operation, and time tofull productivity as a human operator begins to master machineoperation.

Because the time-step predictive analytical model, and correspondingtraining set described herein, are trained using a machine learningmethod, a human machine operator may also benefit from manycomputer-driven models of impeller clutch control in varying materialsand circumstances. The analytical model produced by machine learningmethods such as those disclosed herein can provide adaptive andpredictive impeller clutch control for a machine that can dynamicallyadjust to varying circumstances due to a wide array of possible worksite conditions, materials, compactness of the work pile, etc.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may becontemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems, andmethods without departing from the spirit and scope of what isdisclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within thescope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims andany equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for controlling a machine impellerclutch, the system comprising: a power source; a transmission unit; animpeller clutch operatively coupling the power source to thetransmission unit; an input device configured to generate a force datasignal indicative of a working fluid pressure; and an electronic controlmodule in communication with the input device and configured to executea time-step predictive analytical model for impeller clutch engagement,the electronic control module configured to: receive the force datasignal from the input device; determine an impeller clutch engagementvalue based at least in part on the force data signal and utilizing thetime-step predictive analytical model; and cause engagement of themachine impeller clutch according to the impeller clutch engagementvalue.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is a fluidicpressure measurement device configured to generate the force datasignal, wherein the force data signal is indicative of at least onefluidic pressure measurement.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thefluidic pressure measurement comprises one or more fluidic pressurevalues indicative of one or more of i) a lift cylinder velocity, ii) alift cylinder head-end pressure, iii) a lift cylinder stalled status,iv) a lift linkage angle, v) a work tool angle, and vi) a tilt commandvalve position.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein utilizing thetime-step predictive analytical model comprises accessing a training sethaving a set of fluidic pressure values corresponding to a set ofimpeller clutch engagement values.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein theforce data signal comprises a series of fluidic pressure valuesindicative of a fluidic pressure with respect to time.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic control module is configured todetermine the impeller clutch engagement value independent of a signalfrom a manual impeller clutch control.
 7. A method for automated machinetorque control comprising: generating a force data signal with a datainput device, the force data signal indicative of a working fluidpressure of a working fluid in a machine; executing a time-steppredictive analytical model for machine output torque control with anelectronic control module in communication with the input device;receiving the force data signal from the data input device of themachine; determining, via the processor, a real-time control outputbased at least in part on the force data signal, and utilizing atime-step predictive analytical model; and modulating, via theprocessor, an output torque of the machine according to the real-timecontrol output.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the input device is afluidic pressure measurement device configured to generate the forcedata signal, wherein the force data signal is indicative of at least onefluidic pressure measurement.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein thefluidic pressure measurement comprises one or more fluidic pressurevalues and one or more values indicative of one or more of i) a liftcylinder velocity, ii) a lift cylinder head-end pressure, iii) a liftcylinder stalled status, iv) a lift linkage angle, v) a work tool angle,and vi) a tilt command valve position.
 10. The method of claim 7,wherein utilizing the time-step predictive analytical model comprisesaccessing a training set having a set of fluidic pressure valuescorresponding to a set of machine torque response values.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein the force data signal comprises a series of fluidicpressure values indicative of a fluidic pressure with respect to time.12. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic control module isconfigured to determine the machine torque response value independent ofa signal from a manual machine output torque control signal.
 13. Anelectronic control module for a machine, the machine comprising animpeller clutch, and the electronic control module comprising acomputer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructionsstored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to execute a time-step predictive analytical model forengagement of the impeller clutch, the processor being configured to:receive a force data signal from a fluidic pressure measurement device;determine an impeller clutch engagement value based at least in part onthe force data signal and utilizing the time-step predictive analyticalmodel; and cause engagement of the impeller clutch according to theimpeller clutch engagement value.
 14. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 13, wherein determining the impeller clutch engagementvalue comprises: accessing, via the processor, at a predetermined timeinterval, a set of impeller clutch engagement values comprising theimpeller clutch engagement value, the set of impeller clutch engagementvalues being associated with a corresponding set of values for fluidicpressure measurements; selecting, via the processor, the impeller clutchengagement value by comparing the force data signal to at least onefluidic pressure measurement value of the set of values for fluidicpressure measurements; and setting, via the processor, the impellerclutch engagement value for the engagement of the machine impellerclutch based on the selected impeller clutch engagement value.
 15. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the fluidicpressure measurement device is configured to generate the force datasignal comprising at least one fluidic pressure value.
 16. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the at least onefluidic pressure value is indicative of one or more of i) a liftcylinder velocity, ii) a lift cylinder head-end pressure, iii) a liftcylinder stalled status, iv) a lift linkage angle, v) a work tool angle,and vi) a tilt command valve position.
 17. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 13, wherein the time-step predictive analytical modelaccesses a training set having a set of fluidic pressure valuescorresponding to a set of impeller clutch engagement values.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the electroniccontrol module is configured to determine the impeller clutch engagementvalue independent of a signal from a manual impeller clutch control. 19.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the electroniccontrol module is configured to determine the impeller clutch engagementvalue in a machine having no human operated impeller clutch controlmechanism.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, whereinthe force data signal comprises a series of fluidic pressure valuesindicative of a fluidic pressure with respect to time.